Link champions new law to prioritize child safety

"It's our duty to exercise responsible practices and policies to help save lives and keep our children safe."

"It's our duty to exercise responsible practices and policies to help save lives and keep our children safe." (Posted by rtandon, Community Contributor)

Community Contributor rtandon

GURNEE-Starting Jan. 1, 2019, Illinois law will require children under the age of two to be properly secured in a rear-facing child restraint seat.

The measure supported by State Sen. Terry Link (D-Vernon Hills) was signed into law Friday.

"It's our duty to ensure the safety of our children," Link said. "This new law prioritizes the safety of our children should disaster strike. Every life we save is priceless."

House Bill 4377 requires anyone transporting a child under two years old to secure the child in a rear-facing seat unless the child weighs 40 or more pounds or is more than 40 inches tall.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, rear-facing child safety seats give better support to the head, neck and spine of infants by distributing the force of the collision over the entire body.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that a child remain in rear-facing car seat as long as possible and never travel forward-facing until they are two years old or until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by the manufacturer of their child safety seat.

This will reduce the risk of severe neck injury and lifelong disability.